Renting, moving to a new flat, some questions...

Oberon101

Hello,

Ok, so this is my first time posting on these forums, but I often read them for information and guidance.

I'm currently in the process of moving flat (at short notice) and have a couple of questions I could use some help with.

1, I'm currently with Virgin as my phone and broadband provider. I phoned them up to advise I was moving at the end of the month (28th June) and asked to transfer my current services. Ok no problem so far. I then received a text advising that my account would be activated on the 9th of July. This doesn’t really work for me as I use the internet for work and staying sane. I was wondering if anyone had some tips on how to speed up the process or if I am within my rights to cancel my contract?

2, When I moved into my current flat about 22 months ago, I took out contents insurance. As I am now moving can I cancel this policy? If I can cancel, do I get a rebate? Also as a tenant, do I actually need contents insurance?


Ok, I think that is everything.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[Deleted User]

1. No, welcome to the inconvenience of moving at short notice! Broadband providers take ages, between 3 and 6 weeks is very common. You can cancel your contract but they will charge you a cancellation fee (value of the remainder of the contract normally). Your best bet is to suck it up, you won't find any other provider willing to do it faster than Virgin unless you're very lucky and the faster providers to install may not provide the same quality. I moved a few months back and Virgin had a 3 week turnaround, BT was almost 5 (like you I use the internet for work so I got both lines installed, so I always have a backup).

You can get 3G wireless adapters now that are pretty good, the speeds are nothing to write home about but they're usable, a few quid a month for 500MB and then you pay a few quid for every 500MB after.

http://www.three.co.uk/Store/Mobile_Broadband

Cycrow

Virgin are usually pretty quick, but they do require 2 weeks to do the install.
sometimes you can get lucky and they have some time free earlier, but not often.

when i moved i told them 2 weeks before i moved and got them to install the day i arrived.

if you have a mobile, perhaps you could use that for your connection while you wait ?


For contents insurance, this would depend on the policy, but they might refund some of the money when you cancel it, u'll just have to ask them to find out. Or possible transfer to your new place.

you dont have to have contents insurance, but if anything happens to the contents it'll be up to you to pay for replacements
as a Tennant, what you dont need is the building insurance